Wednesday 19 March 2008
Clomiphene superior to metformin for PCOS ovulation induction
Source: Fertility and Sterility 2008; Advance online publication
Determining the first-line medication to be used in anovulatory patients with polycystic ovary syndrome for ovulation induction and pregnancy achievement.
MedWire News: Researchers recommend clomiphene citrate (CC) as first-line treatment for ovulation induction in anovulatory patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Murizah Mohd Zain (University of Adelaide School of Pediatric and Reproductive Health, Australia) and colleagues report ovulation rates with metformin treatment of 23.7 percent, compared with 59.0 percent with CC group, and 68.4 percent with metformin and CC combined. Significant differences were seen between CC and metformin treatment and between combination and metformin treatment, but not between CC and combination treatment.
The researchers assigned 115 newly diagnosed women with PCOS who were naïve to treatment to three groups. Group 1 received 500 mg of metformin three times a day; group 2 received CC at an incremental dose; and group 3 received both medications.
Ovulation induction led to pregnancy rates that were higher with combined therapy and CC than with metformin, at 21.1 percent and 15.4 percent versus 7.9 percent, respectively.
This led to respective live birth rates of 18.4 percent and 15.4 percent versus 7.9 percent.
The investigators note that the differences among the three groups in pregnancy and live birth rates did not reach statistical significance, however.
"Our study demonstrated that CC is superior to metformin in inducing ovulation in anovulatory women with PCOS," the team concludes.
"Addition of metformin to CC does not significantly increase the ovulation, pregnancy, and live birth rate."
Posted: 13 March 2008
(c) 2008 Current Medicine Group Ltd, a part of Springer Science+Business Media
Source -
http://www.orgyn.com/en/news/2008/We...95263435763889
Clomiphene superior to metformin for PCOS ovulation induction 
